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Court approves NAB's plea, sends Shehbaz Sharif on 10-day physical remand

LAHORE: Accountability court on Saturday sent PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on a 10-day physical remand requested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during the hearing of Ashiana Housing Scheme case.

By Web Desk
October 06, 2018

LAHORE:   Accountability court on Saturday approved NAB's request of sending  PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on a 10-day physical remand  during its hearing of Ashiana Housing Scheme case.

Shortly after, Shehbaz Sharif was seen departing from the court. 

Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif had been produced in court after he was arrested by the NAB in Ashiana Housing case a day earlier.

The former Punjab chief minister was represented  by Azam Nazeer Tarar and Amjad Pervez before Judge Najmul Hasan. 

During the hearing, prosecutor NAB had requested for Shehbaz Sharif to be sent on physical remand. 

"The former Punjab chief minister misused his powers and his actions caused a huge loss to the national exchequer," the NAB prosecutor told the accountability court judge. 

NAB prosecuter further stated that Shehbaz had cancelled the contract awarded to  M/s Ch A Latif & Sons for infrastructure development of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Project and handed it to  to CASA Developers.  He also requested for Shehbaz Sharif  to be further investigated on the matter. 

On the other hand, Shehbaz denied all allegations as "baseless". He added that  Ashiana case was moved as per political vendettas. His lawyers denied NAB prosecutor's request of sending him on physical remand.

The PML-N President then stated that  he is not involved in plundering nation's wealth even a bit. 

Shehbaz’s sons Hamza and Salman Shehbaz were the only people allowed entry inside the court.

PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khurram Dastgir and Saira Afzal Tarrar were present outside the court and had not been granted entry. A huge number of people were also seen outside the court chanting slogans against Shehbaz Sharif's arrest in protest. 

Before coming to court, Shehbaz Sharif underwent a medical examination  under which he was declared completely fit. 

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam on Friday. The former chief minister was accused of awarding illegal contracts to his favorite firm.

Shehbaz was arrested after appearing for a routine hearing of Saaf Pani Company scam at the NAB’s Lahore office. Sources told that three files were tabled before him. In a letter, the bureau reportedly said that investigations are being held against the management and officials of Punjab Land Development Company, Lahore Development Authority and Lahore Casa Developers under the provision of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

Before Shehbaz was presented  before the court, tight security arrangements had been made in the provincial capital. 

All routes to the court had been sealed. Police sources earlier informed  that four SPs, 10 DSPs and 20 SHOs  are to remain on duty during Sharif’s appearance. 

At least 600 Anti Riot Force personnel have been deployed to meet any untoward incident.